CLERMONT, Fla. (March 10) – Senior Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) tossed a complete-game shutout and classmate Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) belted a three-run homer in a victory over Hillsdale, as the Vulcans claimed a split for the second-straight day at the PFX Spring Game on Saturday.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 2-8 overall with all 10 games being played in The Sunshine State.

Against Hillsdale (2-8), Robblee recorded her fifth career complete-game shutout while improving to 2-2 this season. She scattered three hits and issued no walks while setting a season high with seven strikeouts. Robblee allowed only one runner to reach scoring position and retired the side in five innings on Sunday.

The Vulcans took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first behind the first career homer by Downing, who entered the year with 78 career at-bats before transitioning to pitcher last season. In the second, Cal U collected three-straight, two-out singles with sophomore catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) scoring from second on an RBI single by junior left fielder Sierra Besser-Paul (Montreal, Quebec/Howard S. Billings).

Cal U added an insurance run in the fifth to stretch the lead to 5-0. Wilson and Robblee both reached on singles and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Wilson then scored on an error that allowed Besser-Paul to reach safely. Downing followed with a single to load the bases before a fielder's choice at home and a pop-up ended the inning.

Wilson finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored from the leadoff spot, while Downing went 2-for-4 with the three-run homer. Robblee collected a pair of hits and Besser-Paul recorded a pair of RBI in the win.

Against Bentley (1-5), the Vulcans tied the score in the top of the seventh before suffering a 6-5 loss in nine innings. Robblee went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored and Besser-Paul again finished with two RBI.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo homer by Robblee, her second of the year and 13th of her career. The Falcons answered with three runs in the third on just one hit after the inning started with a two-base error. With runners on the corners, Bentley tied the score on an RBI double before Cal U made a pitching change to Downing. The Falcons then scored on a passed ball and added a run on a sacrifice fly before the Vulcans tagged out a base runner attempting to advance to third on the play.

Robblee led off the fourth with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Downing, 3-2. Bentley countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning after scoring on a double and an error. In the sixth, Besser-Paul belted a two-run homer – her second of the year – to cut the deficit to 5-4. Cal U tied the score in the seventh when freshman second baseman Kaitlyn Corle (Hopewell, Pa./Northern Bedford) scored from second on an RBI single by senior center fielder Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton).

The Falcons were forced to strand a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Using the international tiebreaker, Cal U started the eighth with a base runner on second and the runner advanced to third on a passed ball before being tagged out on the play after rounding to home following an obstruction call. In the bottom of the inning, the initial two batters were retired in order before the Vulcans issued back-to-back walks to load the bases. The score remained tied after a fly-out ended the threat.

Besser-Paul was placed on second to start the ninth and advanced to third on a bunt by Downing, who reached base on an error. The inning then ended on a rare triple play with outs being recording at first then home then third. The Falcons capitalized on the momentum in the bottom of the inning when the runner at second scored on an error during a sacrifice bunt.

Senior Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) was saddled with the loss after allowing one run (unearned) on three hits and two walks over 4.0 innings of relief. Bentley starter Ashley Keegan earned the complete-game victory, allowing five runs (all earned) on six hits in 9.0 innings.

The Vulcans return to action in Florida on Tuesday, March 12, when they face Saint Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) and Drury (Mo.), starting at 4 p.m.